Baseball: Pioneers one run shy of state

Leavenworth suffers 5-4 extra-inning defeat in regional final against Shawnee Heights; Immaculata edged out late and Lansing humbled

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By Times Report

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By Times Report

Posted May. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 11:17 PM

By Times Report

Posted May 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 11:17 PM

All that was needed was a single run.

After dismantling Schlagle 15-0 earlier in the day, the Leavenworth baseball team stood a score away from a spot in the Class 5A state tournament.

However, in the top of sixth, seventh and eighth frames, the Pioneers failed to push anything across home plate. Instead, it was Shawnee Heights who finally broke up the 4-all tie in walk-off fashion by defeating LV 5-4 in eight innings.

“They got two singles with two outs, a walk and then hit the game winning base hit with a full count,” LV coach Joe Allison said. “All six seniors played today and played their hearts out. It was a very emotional speech afterwards as I just thanked them.”

The Pioneers snatched an early advantage with single runs in the first and third, plus two in the fifth. However, Heights countered with one in the first and three in the fifth.

That led to extra innings, where the Pioneers couldn't push across the game winner before suffering the eight-inning loss.

Judson Cole pitched the entire game for LV, allowing two earned runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

“Judson threw his butt off,” Allison said. “Typical Judson Cole. He threw great and the five errors behind him didn't do him any favors.”

Pioneer RBIs came from Cole, Zach Harris and Michael Baillergeon. Cole finished with three hits in the contest and scored two of the four Leavenworth runs.

In the game prior to Tuesday's final, LV took down Schlagle 15-0. Baillergeon recorded six RBIs on three hits while Harris added three of each as well. James Gladiuex notched the pitching win by allowing just one hit.

Leavenworth concluded 2013 with a 9-13 record.

Raiders edged out late by Valley Falls

All year long, the Immaculata baseball team had learned to live on the edge.

Ten of the Raiders' 14 games before Tuesday had been decided by one run, so high-pressure situations were not new to the squad.

Thus, when the team's regional semifinal against Valley Falls entered the sixth-inning tied at two, Imac felt well-prepared. But even the most seasoned teams falter once in a while, and the Raiders picked the wrong time for their turn.

After pitching an outstanding 5 and 2/3 innings, Immaculata starter Jarret McCall gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Raiders couldn't answer in the seventh and ultimately saw its season come to a close with a 6-2 loss.

“Jarret McCall pitched his heart out and he just ran out of gas,” Imac coach Met Metivier said. “The loss is on me. I should've recognized his arm was running out before I left him in too long, but it was one of those things where he had two outs and just needed one more pitch.”

Page 2 of 2 - The game was tight throughout. Imac secured its two runs in the second and fourth, both RBI hits coming from Jacob Groover, which scored Connor Goetz each time.

Yet, that was all the offense Immaculata could muster, which came back to haunt the team late.

Overall, the Raiders finished the year 9-6 and co-champions of the Delaware Valley League.

“It was a very clean game, both teams were in and out of the dugout and they just got us in the end,” Metivier said. “My boys played great today.”

Lansing humbled in season finale

It was a rough end for the Lansing baseball team.

Opening its 2013 regional tournament at Topeka Seaman, the Lions lost 24-5. Attempts to obtain postgame comments and stats were unsuccessful.